😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,328 in Sodertalje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $3,498 in Sodertalje.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $4,668 in Sodertalje.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 7% more expensive than in Sodertalje, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Sodertalje69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.81
$14.48SEK 138
27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$68.9SEK 657
0.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.15
$10.36SEK 98.8
36.39%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.69
$4.63SEK 44.18
-32.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$2.54SEK 24.17
18.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$2.14SEK 20.38
-8.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$7.50SEK 71.5
-46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.09
$6.75SEK 64.4
-29.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.85SEK 17.63
-32.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$3.17SEK 30.26
-31.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$5.41SEK 51.6
-68.76%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$5.04SEK 48.01
-2.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.37
$14.14SEK 135
26.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.26
$13.48SEK 129
-28.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.63
$17.90SEK 171
8.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$3.39SEK 32.28
-4.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$2.73SEK 26.06
-20.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.05SEK 19.53
30.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.38
$4.86SEK 46.38
-43.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.50SEK 14.29
47.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.81SEK 17.29
20.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$2.37SEK 22.61
-35.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.91SEK 18.25
-51.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.12
$7.20SEK 68.6
-1.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€6.99
$10.33SEK 98.5
-21.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.06SEK 19.64
-27.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.31SEK 21.99
20.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$4.23SEK 40.35
-25.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.21
$115SEK 1,098
-76.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.79
$13.37SEK 127
-75.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$2.11SEK 20.12
-28.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.00
$83.3SEK 794
-58.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.78SEK 17.01
-1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$34.3KSEK 327.3K
6.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$34.1KSEK 325.5K
-9.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$186SEK 1,777
0.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.27
$26.86SEK 256
-42.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.49
$48.65SEK 464
-22.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.16
$35.21SEK 336
62.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.95
$16.44SEK 157
-29.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€862
$223SEK 2,121
350.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.7
$101SEK 966
-11.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.14
$55.5SEK 529
-26.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.5
$99.1SEK 945
10.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€105
$222SEK 2,118
-44.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,438
$1,102SEK 10.5K
51.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,145
$934SEK 8,903
42.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,232
$2,057SEK 19.6K
26.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,676
$1,670SEK 15.9K
16.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,511
$4,134SEK 39.4K
83.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,617
$3,651SEK 34.8K
47.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,065
$3,257SEK 31.1K
-26.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.87
-35.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sodertalje: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $1,102 in Sodertalje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sodertalje pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Sodertalje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $398 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Sodertalje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sodertalje?
Barcelona and Sodertalje differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,328 including rent). Sodertalje is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Sodertalje. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Sodertalje?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $1,102 in Sodertalje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $223 in Sodertalje. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,328 in Sodertalje versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sodertalje but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sodertalje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Sodertalje safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sodertalje are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Sodertalje?
Expats usually find Sodertalje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.